Title - Passengers wait at railway station while Starbuses use flyover

NAGPUR: SB Kaimal, a government employee, was waiting for a bus to Besa at the city bus stand in front of the railway station. Even as a bus to another destination stopped at the stop, he saw the bus for Besa going past using the flyover in front of the station. Over the next half-hour or so, he saw at least two more buses bypass the railway station bus stop by using the fly over. A frustrated Kaimal walked all the way to Jaisthambh Square bus stand, from where he finally caught a bus home.This is not a lone incident. Many Starbuses on the route use the flyover, which not only violates a ban on heavy vehicles on the flyover, but also leads to passengers being stranded at the railway station.A puncture kiosk owner, who sits near Jaisthambh square, says he sees buses using the flyover a number of times. He said, "People who regularly use the bus now directly walk to Jaisthambh square bus stop instead of waiting at the railway station. You can never be sure whether a bus will come to railway station or not."

In defence of his employees, an official of Vansh Nimay Infraprojects Limited (VNIL) said bus drivers were forced to use the flyover because of the congestion on the road in front of the railway station. "I am aware of such a thing happening, but you have to look at the situation too. There are so many encroachments on the road by autorickshaws and eateries below the flyover that it is difficult to maneuver the buses," the official said.

He said that since autorickshaws see Starbuses as competitors, they also engage in fights with them. "Even the bus stop has been encroached upon by paper and exam form vendors. We have spoken about this issue with authorities, but to no avail. The drivers do take the railway station road whenever possible," said the VNIL official.

However, traffic cops differ on the issue and say that nothing can happen to Starbus employees. "There are six traffic officials standing on that road, no auto driver can harm a bus or its driver or conductor," said Avinash More, PI, traffic (south).

He further questioned the problem Starbuses face in using the road. "If big Madhya Pradesh state transport buses can use it, then why can't the Starbuses? As for autorickshaws standing there, we don't make them go away because people will be inconvenienced. What will people who do not want to use prepaid auto do?" he asked, adding that they have many times challaned Starbuses for using the flyover.

The high court has ordered that the road in front of the railway station be free of all encroachments, with the responsibility laid at the door of the traffic department and Nagpur Municipal Corporation. However, both agencies have failed to do their part. Amid the blame game, the common man is being deprived of proper Starbus service from the railway station.